Step 3 Devotional - Single-Minded Devotion

BIBLE READING: James 4:7-10

We made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God.

We may have already chosen to follow God, letting him define the overall direction of our life. Even so, many of us still try to keep parts of our heart hidden from God. We have devoted these parts of ourself to gratifying our addiction, to doing things that are contrary to the will of God. This sets us up for living a double life, which can fill us with guilt, shame, and instability.

Even those of us who have given our heart to God face new temptations and decisions every day. James was addressing believers when he wrote: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James 4:7-8).
If we choose to live a double life, we may begin to doubt whether God hears us at all. As James wrote: “A person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do” (James 1:6-8).

When we resist the devil at every turn and draw close to God, he will draw close to us. When we open the hidden portions of our heart and begin to make choices in favor of recovery, we will soon grow confident that God desires to help us.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 3 Devotional - Discovering God

BIBLE READING: Acts 17:23-28

We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

Before we can turn our life over to God, we need to have an accurate understanding of who he is. It is crucial that we entrust ourself to the God who loves us and not to the “god” of this world, who seeks only to deceive and destroy us. The apostle Paul described the deceiver this way: “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Has Satan deceived us? How can we be sure that we have a true understanding of God?

When Paul addressed the men of Athens, he said, “I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. . . . His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:23, 27-28).

Even though God may be unknown to us, he is near and willing to reveal himself. God has promised that “if you look for me in wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13). Turning over our will involves accepting God as he is instead of insisting on creating him in our own image. When we seek God with an open heart and mind, we will find him.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 3 Devotional - Submission and Rest

BIBLE READING: Matthew 11:27-30

We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

When our burdens become heavy and we find that our way of life is leading us toward death, we may finally be willing to let someone else do the driving. We may have worked hard at getting our life on the right track but still feel as if we always end up on dead-end streets.
Proverbs tells us, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). When we began our addictive behavior, we were probably seeking pleasure or looking for a way to overcome our pain. The way seemed right at first, but it wasn’t long before it became clear that we were on the wrong track. By then we were unable to turn around on our own. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Taking on a yoke implies being united to another in order to work together. Those who are yoked together must go in the same direction; by doing so, their work is made considerably easier. When we finally decide to submit our life and our will to God’s direction, our burdens will become manageable. When we let him do the driving, we will “find rest” for our soul. He knows the way and has the strength to turn us around and get us on the road toward recovery.


Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.”

Step 3 Devotional - Redeeming the Past

BIBLE READING: Isaiah 54:4-8

We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

Each one of us comes to God with a past. In turning our life over to him, we give him our entire self, including our past losses and shame. We hand over to him every moment of disgrace, every tear we have ever cried, every word we wish we could take back, all the broken promises, the loneliness, all the dreams that died, the dashed hopes, the broken relationships, our successes and failures—all of our yesterdays and the scars they have left in our life.

Under Old Testament law, if someone lost freedom, property, or spouse because of a disaster or a debt, the next of kin was looked to as a “redeemer.” If property had been lost because of inability to pay, the redeemer would pay for it and return it to the original owner. If a woman lost her husband, the redeemer would marry her, providing her with protection and love. God tells us, “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband; the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer. . . . For the LORD has called you back from your grief” (Isaiah 54:4-6).

God is our Redeemer, the restorer of our losses. He is Lord of all, even of our days and our dreams in the past. When we give God the past, he can make up for all we have lost. He can rid us of the shame and fill the empty places in our heart.

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 3 Devotional - Giving Up Control

BIBLE READING: Psalm 61:1-8

We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

The thought of turning our will and our life over can be attractive. When we give in to our dependencies and compulsions, aren’t we giving control over to another power? Aren’t we in some way giving up personal responsibility for our life? When we are overwhelmed and want to escape, our addiction can make us feel strong, safe, attractive, powerful, happy. So, in a sense, we are very comfortable with the thought of giving up control of our will and our life.

We can take steps to change our focus and turn our life over to God instead of reverting to the hiding places of the past. The apostle Paul touched on this contrast when he said, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
When we are overwhelmed and in need of some kind of escape, we have a new place to turn. King David declared, “The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you” (Psalm 9:9-10).

David also wrote, “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me” (Psalm 61:2-3).


Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 3 Devotional - Free to Choose

BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 30:15-20


We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

Everyone has a life-or-death decision to make. We have all been created with the supreme privilege of free will—the ability to choose. Even when we are in the bondage of our addictions, we still have choices confronting us. When we are in recovery, we face the nagging lure of falling back into our addictions. The freedom to choose brings with it the burden of the consequences of our choices. These choices affect our life and the lives of our children. Free will is our blessing and our responsibility!

God spoke through Moses, saying, “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live . . . and the LORD your God will bless you. . . . But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, . . . then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. . . . Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

Although we may feel out of control with respect to our addictions, we can choose to set our heart in the direction of life. We can choose to love God and begin to follow his program.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 3 Devotional - TRUSTING GOD

BIBLE READING: Numbers 23:18-24

We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

It is not uncommon to link our perceptions about God to our childhood experiences with people who played powerful roles in our life. If we have been victimized in the past by people who were capricious, abusive, distant, uncaring, or incompetent, we may now anticipate these qualities in God.

Just because God is a power greater than we are and the people who victimized us represented a power greater than we were, we must not conclude that God will harm us if we entrust our life to him. Jesus tells us that he didn’t entrust himself to men because he knew what was in their hearts. Nevertheless, he voluntarily turned his life over to the will of God the Father. “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people” (Psalm 118:8).

We may have learned in the past that putting confidence in people brings only pain and disappointment. We can’t let this keep us from ever trusting again. In working through Step Three we can make a healthy decision to “turn our will and our life over to the only one who is worthy of being trusted. The Bible tells us, "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind” (Numbers 23:19). And God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5).

We know that we can’t make it all “alone. But now we can stop being the victim. We can turn our life over to Someone who is really able to care for our needs.

Excerpt From: Arterburn, Stephen. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.” Tyndale House Publishers. 

Step 2 Devotional - Hope in Faith

BIBLE READING: Hebrews 11:1-10


We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Step Two is often referred to as “the hope step.” In coming to believe that a Power greater than ourself can restore us to sanity, we will remember what it was like to live sanely and have the faith to hope that sanity can return.

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1). How can we be confident that something we want is going to happen, especially if all of our hopes have been dashed? How can we risk believing that the life we hope for is waiting for us around the bend?

The Bible tells us that the key is in the nature of the higher Power we look to. We are told that “anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). If we see God as one who is reaching out to help us, we will be more eager to look for him. If our faith has not matured to that point yet, we can ask for help. One man came to Jesus asking him to help his young son who was afflicted by a demon. He said to Jesus, “‘Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:22-24). We can start by “thing we want is going to happen, especially if all of our hopes have been dashed? How can we risk believing that the life we hope for is waiting for us around the bend?
The Bible tells us that the key is in the nature of the higher Power we look to. We are told that “anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). If we see God as one who is reaching out to help us, we will be more eager to look for him. If our faith has not matured to that point yet, we can ask for help. One man came to Jesus asking him to help his young son who was afflicted by a demon. He said to Jesus, “‘Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:22-24). We can start by asking God to help us have more faith. Then we can ask him for the courage to hope for a better future.”


Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 2 Devotional- Coming to Believe

BIBLE READING: Romans 1:18-20


We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Saying that we “came to believe” suggests a process. Belief is the result of consideration, doubt, reasoning, and concluding. The ability to form beliefs is part of what it means to be made in God’s image. It involves emotion and logic. It leads to action. What, then, is the process that leads us to solid belief and changes our life?

We start with our own experiences, and we see what doesn’t work. Looking at the condition of our life, we realize that we don’t have enough power to overcome our dependency. We try with all our might, but to no avail. When we are quiet enough to listen, we hear that still, small voice inside us saying, “There is a powerful God, and he is able and willing to help us.” The apostle Paul said it this way: “They [the people who need God] know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them” (Romans 1:19).

Recognizing our internal weaknesses is the first step toward recovery. When we look beyond ourself, we see that there are others who have struggled with an addiction and recovered. We know that they, too, were unable to heal themselves, yet they now live free of addictive behaviors. We conclude that there must be a greater Power that helped them. Since we can see the similarities between their struggles and our own, we come to believe that our powerful God can restore us to sanity. This is where many people are when they get to Step Two, and it’s a good place to be on the way to recovery.

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 2 Devotional - Restoration

BIBLE READING: Luke 15:11-24


We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

In the natural progression of addiction, life degenerates. In one way or another, many of us wake up one day to realize that we are living like an animal. How true this is depends on the nature of our addiction. Some of us may be living like an animal in terms of our physical surroundings. Others of us may be a slave to our animal passions—powerful emotions that dehumanize us and others.

A young man took an early inheritance and traveled away from home. When the money was spent, the women just a memory, and the “high” long gone, he resorted to slopping pigs to earn a meager living. When he became so hungry that he eyed the pigs’ slop with envy, he realized he had a problem. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father. . . .’ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw “him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” (Luke 15:17-18, 20).
The fact that we are able to recognize our life as degenerate or insane proves that there is hope for a better way of life. We are reminded of times when life was good, and we long to have that goodness restored. When we turn to God, who is powerful enough to help us build something better, we will discover that his power can restore us to sanity.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 2 Devotional - Healing Faith

BIBLE READING: Luke 8:43-48




We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Faith is a key to successfully working the second step. For some of us faith comes easily. For others, especially if we have experienced betrayal, it may be more difficult. Sometimes we must exhaust all of our own resources in trying to overcome our addictive “disease” before we will risk believing in a higher Power.

When Jesus lived on earth, he was so renowned for his healing power that crowds of sick people constantly pressed in on him. One day there was “a woman in the crowd [who] had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.” Jesus realized that someone had deliberately touched him, because he felt healing power go out from him. When the woman confessed that she was the one who had been healed, Jesus said, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:43-44, 48).

In order to recover we must follow the example of this woman. We cannot afford to stand back, hoping for “cures" and avoid deliberate action because of our lack of faith. We may have lived with our condition for many years, spending our resources on promising “cures” without success. When we can come to believe in God, a power greater than ourself, and have the faith to take hold of our own recovery, we will find the healing power we have been looking for”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step Devotional 2 - Internal Bondage

BIBLE READING: Mark 5:1-13


We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

When we are under the influence of our addiction, its hold may seem to have supernatural force. We may give up on living and throw ourself into self-destructive behaviors with reckless abandon. People may also give up on us. They may distance themselves from us, as though we were already dead. Whether our “insanity” is self-induced or has a more sinister origin, there is power available to restore us to sanity and wholeness.

Jesus helped a man who was acting insanely. “This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones” (Mark 5:3-5). Jesus went into the graveyard and assessed the situation. He dealt with the forces of darkness that were afflicting the man and restored him to sanity. He then sent him home to his friends to tell them what God had done for him.

We may have gone so far into our addiction that we have broken all restraints. We struggle to be free from the control of society and loved ones, only to discover that our bondage doesn’t come from outside sources. All hope seems lost, but where there is still life, there is still hope. God can touch our insanity and restore us to sanity.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 2 Devotional - Grandiose Thinking

BIBLE READING: Daniel 4:19-33


We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

When we are caught up in our addiction, it’s common for us to deny the truth about our situation with grandiose thinking. We may believe that we’re above it all, a god unto ourself, accountable to no one.
In his day, Nebuchadnezzar, king of ancient Babylon, was the most powerful ruler on earth. He believed he was a god and demanded to be worshiped. Through Daniel God said to him, “This is . . . what the Most High has declared will happen to [you]. You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals . . . until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses” (Daniel 4:24-25).

This happened just as Daniel had predicted. At the end of the king’s time in exile, he said, “I . . . looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. . . . When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom . . . with even greater honor and glory and kingdom . . . with even greater honor than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud” (Daniel 4:34, 36-37).

We are not God; we are accountable to God—a higher power. This higher power can remedy our “madness” and restore our life to be even better than it was before our season of “insanity.” God will do so if we entrust our life to him.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.”

Step 2 Devotional - Persistent Seeking

Bible Reading. Job 14:1-6

We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

One thing that may make it hard to believe in God is that life often seems unfair to us. We didn’t ask to be born into a dysfunctional family! We didn’t have any say over the abuses and injustices we have suffered! We didn’t choose our predisposition toward addiction. And yet we are held accountable for things we can’t control on our own. This makes it hard to initially turn to God as the Power to restore our sanity. He seems unreasonable in his demands.

Job understood these feelings. In the midst of his suffering he said, “How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Must you keep an eye on such a frail creature and demand an accounting from me? Who can bring purity out of an impure person?” (Job 14:1-4). These are good questions—ones that most of us have asked in one form or another. Job persisted in his questioning because deep inside he believed God to be good and fair, even though life wasn’t. He was honest with his emotions and questions, but he never stopped seeking God.

There is a good answer to the question Job posed, one that will satisfy both our heart and our mind. It will be found, however, only by those who are willing to work through the pain and unfairness of life and still seek God. Those who seek him will finf him. In God’s loving arms, they will also find the answers they seek.”

Excerpt From: Arterburn, Stephen. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.” Tyndale House Publishers.

Step 1 Devotional - Like Little Children

BIBLE READING: Mark 10:13-16

We admitted that we were powerless over our problems—that our lives had become unmanageable.

For many of us in recovery, memories of childhood are full of the terrors associated with being powerless. If we were raised in a family that was out of control, where we were neglected, abused, or exposed to domestic violence and dysfunctional behavior, the thought of being powerless might be very frightening. We may have silently vowed never again to be as vulnerable as we were when we were children.

Jesus tells us that in order to enter the Kingdom of God we must become like little children, and this involves being powerless. He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15).

In any society, children are the most dependent members. They have no inherent power for self-protection—no means to ensure that their lives will be safe, comfortable, or fulfilling. Little children are singularly reliant on the love, care, and nurture of others for their most basic needs. They must cry out even though they may not know exactly what they need. They must trust their lives to someone who is more powerful than they, and, hopefully, they will be heard and lovingly cared for.

We, too, must admit that we are truly powerless if our life is to become healthy. This “doesn’t mean we have to become victims again. Admitting our powerlessness is an honest appraisal of our situation in life and a positive step toward recovery.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 1 Devotional - A Time To Choose

Bible Reading - Acts 9: 1-9

We admitted that we were powerless over our problems—that our lives had become unmanageable.

There are important moments in life that can change our destiny. These are often times when we are confronted with how powerless we are over the events of our life. These moments can either destroy us or forever set the course of our life in a much better direction.

Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul; see 13:9) had such a moment. After Jesus’ ascension, Saul took it upon himself to rid the world of Christians. As he headed to Damascus on this mission, “a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? . . . I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ . . . Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink” (Acts 9:3-6, 8-9).

Saul was suddenly confronted with the fact that his life wasn’t as perfect as he had thought. Self-righteousness had been his trademark. By letting go of his illusions of power, however, he became one of the most powerful men ever—the apostle Paul. When we are confronted with the knowledge that our life isn’t under our control, we have a choice. We can continue in denial and self-righteousness, or we can face the fact that we have been blind to some important issues. If we become willing to be led into recovery and into a whole new way of life, we will find true power.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 1 Devotional - Hope amidst Suffering

BIBLE READING: Job 6:2-13


We admitted that we were powerless over our problems—that our lives had become unmanageable.

There are times when we are so confused and overwhelmed by the pain in our life that we wish we could die. No matter what we do, we are powerless to change things for the better. The weight of the pain and sadness seems too heavy to bear. We can’t see why our heart doesn’t just break and allow death to free us.

Job felt that way. He’d lost everything, even though he had always done what was right. His ten children were dead. He had lost his business, his riches, and his health. And all this happened in a matter of days! He was left with a sharp-tongued wife and three friends who blamed him for his own misfortune. Job cried out, “If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. . . . Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire. I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me. . . . I don’t have the strength to endure “I have nothing to live for. Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze? No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success” (Job 6:2-3, 8-9, 11-13).

Job didn’t know that the end of his life would be even better than the beginning. God eventually restored everything Job had “lost, and then some. “Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life” (Job 42:17). Even when we’re pressed to the point of death, there is still hope that our life will change. Our recovery could be so complete that the final lines written about us might read: “At last he or she died, after living a long, full life.” We must remember: Life can be good again!”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 1 Devotional - A Humble Beginning

BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 5:1-15


We admitted that we were powerless over our problems—that our lives had become unmanageable.

It can be very humiliating to admit that we are powerless, especially if we are used to being in control. We may be powerful in some areas of our life, but out of control in terms of our addictive/compulsive behaviors. If we refuse to admit our powerlessness, we may lose everything. That one unmanageable part of our life may infect and destroy everything else.

The experiences of Aramean army commander Naaman illustrate how this is true. He was a powerful military and political figure, a man of wealth, position, and power. He also had leprosy, which promised to bring about the loss of everything he held dear. Lepers were made outcasts from their families and from society. Ultimately, they faced a slow, painful, and disgraceful death.

Naaman heard about a prophet in Israel who could heal him. He found the prophet, and the prophet told him that in order to be healed he needed to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman went away outraged, having expected that his power would buy him an instant and easy cure. In the end however, he acknowledged his powerlessness, followed the instructions, and recovered completely.

Our “diseases” are as life threatening as the leprosy of Naaman’s day. They slowly separate us from our family and lead toward the destruction of everything important to us. There is no instant or easy cure. The only answer is to admit our powerlessness, humble ourself, and submit to the process that will eventually bring recovery.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 1 Devotional - When we refuse to admit our powerlessness we are only deceiving ourselves.

BIBLE READING: Judges 16:1-31



We admitted that we were powerless over our problems—that our lives had become unmanageable.

When we refuse to admit our powerlessness we are only deceiving ourselves.

The lies we tell ourselves and others are familiar: “I can stop any time I want to.” “I’m in control; this one won’t hurt anything.” And all the while, we are inching closer to disaster.

Samson was one of Israel’s judges. As a child, he had been dedicated to God, and God had gifted him with supernatural strength. But Samson had a lifelong weakness—the way he related to women. Samson was especially blinded to the dangers he faced in his relationship with Delilah. His enemies were paying her to discover the secret of his strength. Three times she begged Samson to tell her his secret. Each time she set him up and tried to hand him over to the enemy. Three times Samson lied to her and was able to escape. But each time he got closer to telling her the truth. Finally, Samson revealed his secret, was taken captive, and died a slave in enemy hands.

Samson’s real problem can be found in the lies he told himself. By no“admitting his powerlessness, he remained blind to the obvious danger that his pride and desire for beautiful foreign women were leading him into. This caused him to gradually inch his way toward an untimely death.

We need to be careful not to fall into a similar trap. As we learn to acknowledge our powerlessness over our addictive/ compulsive tendencies daily, we will become more aware of behaviors that will likely lead us to destruction.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

When we are working to make changes in our life and relationships, we may not always be certain of what to do.

READ 1 SAMUEL 24:1-22

When we are working to make changes in our life and relationships, we may not always be certain of what to do. When we face confusing situations, we need to rely on God’s wisdom to help us make our decisions.

King Saul’s jealousy and abuse made young David’s life miserable. Saul knew that God had chosen David to be king instead of him. Although David was a loyal subject, Saul tried to kill him. Once, when David was hiding in a cave, King Saul came in without knowing David was there. “ ‘Now’s your opportunity!’ David’s men whispered to him. ‘Today the LORD is telling you, “I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.”’ So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. ‘The LORD knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,’ he said to his men. ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.’ So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul” (1 Samuel 24:4-7).

David knew what God expected of him in this situation, and he chose to obey God. In trying to obey God, it is important to know what his will is in a given situation. When we aren’t sure what to do, we can see if the Bible gives us any guidance on a similar situation. Then we will have a clear view of what it means to be truly obedient to God.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

We need serenity to be able to accept the consequences of our actions.

READ 1 SAMUEL 15:10-23


We need serenity to be able to accept the consequences of our actions. We may tend to feel wrongly accused and deny our wrongdoings or try to justify them. Unless we are willing to take responsibility for past failures, there is no hope for recovery.

Saul was the first king of Israel. At his coronation the people were told, “Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God” (1 Samuel 12:14). But Saul and the people disobeyed God. “Then the LORD said to Samuel, ‘I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command’ ” (15:10-11). When Samuel confronted Saul, he denied doing any wrong and put up his defenses. So Samuel replied, “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king” (15:23). Saul then led his entire family and country into years of civil war as he fought to remain king. He finally died at his own hand, surrounded by enemy troops. His three sons died with him.

There is no escaping the consequences of our actions. God can give us the serenity about our past failures if we are willing to take responsibility for them and ask for God’s forgiveness. When we face this with courage, we may well spare ourself and our loved ones many years of additional pain.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

We all face difficult situations that involve the people we love.

READ GENESIS 18:20-33

We all face difficult situations that involve the people we love. In some of these situations the wise course of action may not be clear. We may feel a heavy burden to act but have no idea what to do.

Abraham found himself in such a situation. The Lord had told Abraham that he intended to destroy the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. Since Abraham’s nephew Lot lived among the people of these cities, Abraham was concerned for their welfare. So Abraham approached God and said, “ ‘ Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. . . . Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?’ And the LORD replied, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake’ ” (Genesis 18:23-26). The bargaining went on: Suppose there are only forty-five . . . forty . . . thirty . . . twenty . . . ten? Finally God said, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” (18:32).

Abraham wasn’t sure what he could do in the situation he faced; he wasn’t even sure what was right in this situation. He talked it over with God, reasoning it out, trying to do whatever he could. When we don’t know how much of a change we can or even should make, we can start by talking it over with God. Then we can try to do as much as we feel confident doing.

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

NO WIN SITUATIONS - Step 1 Devotion

BIBLE  READING: Genesis 16:1-15

We admitted that we were powerless over our problems—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Sometimes we are powerless because of our stations in life. 

We may be in a situation where other people have power over us. We may feel that we are trapped by the demands of others and that there’s no way to please them all. It’s a double bind: To please one is to disappoint another. Sometimes when we feel stuck and frustrated with our relationships, we look for a measure of control by escaping through our addictive behaviors.

Hagar is a picture of powerlessness. She had no rights. As a girl, she was a slave to Sarai and Abram. When they were upset because Sarai could not bear children, Hagar was given to Abram as a surrogate. When she did become pregnant, as they had wanted, Sarai was so jealous that she beat Hagar, and Hagar ran away. All alone out in the wilderness, she was met by an angel who gave her an amazing message: “  ‘Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.’ Then he added, ‘I will give you more descendants than you can count.’ And the angel also said, ‘You  are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means “God hears”), for the LORD has heard your cry of distress.’  ” (Genesis 16:9-11).

When we are caught in no-win situations, it’s tempting to run away through our addictive/compulsive escape hatches. At times like these God is there, and he is listening to our woes. We need to learn to express our pain to God instead of just trying to escape it. He hears our cries and is willing to give us hope for the future.”

Excerpt From: Arterburn, Stephen. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.” Tyndale House Publishers. i